Safety switch assembly

Abstract

A rotary safety switch assembly is disclosed in which electrical contacts are movable from a power supply OFF position to a power supply ON position by movement of a rotary member contained within a housing, the electrical contacts comprising first stationary contacts and second movable contacts, and in which the first stationary contacts are carried by a housing part and the second movable contacts are carried by the rotary member and are movable therewith in an arc about said predetermined axis to make and break contact with the first stationary contacts in response to movement of the rotary member by the actuator.

1. A safety switch assembly comprising:
 a housing containing electrical contacts movable from a power supply OFF position to a power supply ON position by movement of a rotary member contained within the housing and configured to rotated about a predetermined axis by an actuator insertable into the housing, 
 wherein the electrical contacts comprise first stationary contacts and second movable contacts, and 
 wherein the first stationary contacts are carried by a housing part and the second movable contacts are carried by the rotary member and are movable therewith in an arc about said predetermined axis to make and break contact with the first stationary contacts in response to movement of the rotary member by the actuator. 
 
     
     
       2. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the housing part forms part of a housing body. 
     
     
       3. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which there are a plurality of pairs of first contacts and a plurality of pairs of second contacts. 
     
     
       4. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which there are at least one pair of first contacts and at least one pair of second contacts. 
     
     
       5. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 4  in which first and second contacts or the at least one pair of first contacts are spaced radially. 
     
     
       6. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 4  in which first and second contacts of the at least one pair of first contacts are spaced circumferentially. 
     
     
       7. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 6  in which first and second contacts of the at least one pairs of first contacts are spaced diametrically opposite one another in a common pitch circle diameter. 
     
     
       8. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 4  in which the at least one pair of second contacts forms a conduction path between the at least one pair of first contacts in the power ON position. 
     
     
       9. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the first contacts connect with electrical terminals by way of conduction paths. 
     
     
       10. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 9  in which the terminals are configured to accept wire connections. 
     
     
       11. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 9  in which the terminals form electrical connection pins to receive a mating socket. 
     
     
       12. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 11  in which a plurality of first contacts are provided, and in which a corresponding plurality of pins take the form of a plug which receives a correspondingly configured socket. 
     
     
       13. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the first contacts are disposed concentrically to one side of the housing part. 
     
     
       14. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the housing part comprises a web or flange and there first contacts are disposed to both sides of said web and wherein the rotary member comprises two parts disposed to opposite sides of said web and presenting the second contacts to make and break engagement with said first contacts. 
     
     
       15. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the rotary member comprises two separately rotatable rotary members. 
     
     
       16. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 15  in which there is a respective locking member for each of the rotary members. 
     
     
       17. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 16  in which each locking member is urged into locking engagement with a respective rotary member by resilient biasing means. 
     
     
       18. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the rotary member comprises two members that are connected to rotate together. 
     
     
       19. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the first contacts comprise conduction paths that are integrated into a non-conductive material forming at least a part of the housing. 
     
     
       20. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the conduction paths lead between exposed contact areas and a terminal including at least one of a plurality of pin connections, a socket, and wire terminal blocks. 
     
     
       21. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the conduction paths are embedded conductors. 
     
     
       22. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the second contacts comprise contact elements that are biased towards the first contacts. 
     
     
       23. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 22  in which at least the second contacts may comprise strips of conductive material that exhibit resilience. 
     
     
       24. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 23  in which the second contacts comprise cantilevered strips. 
     
     
       25. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the second contacts carried by the rotary member are resiliently biased towards the first contacts. 
     
     
       26. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the first contacts are resiliently connected to respective conductor paths leading through the housing. 
     
     
       27. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the housing has at least one aperture to receive the actuator for the rotary member, and the rotary member has at least one reception location in which an end of the actuator engages to rotate the rotary member in response to movement of the actuator. 
     
     
       28. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 27  in which the housing has two apertures that are disposed perpendicularly to one another and the rotary member is provided with reception locations to permit rotation thereof on entry of the actuator through either one of the apertures. 
     
     
       29. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 28  in which the apertures are formed in a housing cap that attaches to the housing body. 
     
     
       30. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 28  in which the apertures are disposed offset from the axis of rotation of the rotary member and wherein a housing cap may be attached to the housing body in alternative orientations to create a further two positions in which the actuator can be inserted relative to the rotary member, and the rotary member has reception locations to accept the actuator in said alternative positions. 
     
     
       31. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the housing accommodates at least one locking member which is movable between a first position in which rotation of the rotary member is prevented and a second position in which rotation is permitted. 
     
     
       32. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 31  in which the at least one locking member comprises a lug that is received in a recess of the rotary member in the first position. 
     
     
       33. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claims 31  in which the actuator is configured to displace the at least one locking member from the first position on insertion of the actuator in to at least one aperture formed in the housing. 
     
     
       34. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 31  in which the at least one locking member is slidably or pivotably movable. 
     
     
       35. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 31  in which the rotary member is rotatable against resilient biasing which acts to return the rotary member to a first position, when the actuator is removed. 
     
     
       36. A safety switch assembly as claimed in  claim 31  in which the rotary member is urged into sealing contact with the housing part carrying the first stationary contacts to seal the contacts from the environment.